Indonesia cracks down on illegal biodiversity studies

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The Indonesian government is drafting a decree to make it more difficult and expensive for foreign scientists to do research in Indonesia, said an official on Tuesday (30 November). According to the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, which grants research permits, an increasing number of "illegal studies" are being undertaken.

The institute's deputy chair Lukman Hakim says the regulations protect national intellectual property rights. He said that the institute has seen cases where foreign researchers claimed rights relating to research conducted by Indonesian scientists.

Current regulations require foreign scientists applying to undertake research in Indonesia to submit to the institute documents including an agreement to collaborate with local partners. Penalties for violating research permits include jail terms of up to six months, fines of up to five million rupiah (US$555) and immediate deportation.